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Monday, August 31, 2009

Click here to sign up for a free sample of either Au Gratin Potatoes or Garlic Mashed Potatoes from Betty Crocker. I'm sure these will go fast, so if you're interested, don't dilly-dally! You don't need to sign up for a newsletter or even enter an email address for this one, but there is a limit of one per household. Thanks MoneySavingMom!

Request a free catalog from The Gallery Collection and you will also get 6 free greeting cards. You can choose between holiday or all-occasion greeting cards. Click here if you'd like to browse for your own 6 free cards.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Heather asked a great question that I thought others might be interested in:We will be moving across country in about 10 days. What tips do you have for starting a stockpile from scratch and still managing to eat a somewhat balanced diet in the process? Our budget doesn't allow us to drop a couple hundred dollars in start-up costs for groceries, so I'm hoping you might have some ideas. I do have a pretty decent coupon collection, so I'm hoping that will help us out some, but your thoughts would be appreciated!

I've wondered what I would do if we had to move, and how I would deal with my stockpile. I'd want to take my movable (non-perishable) stockpile with me so I wouldn't have to start from scratch, but I know that might not be an option, space-wise, or it might cost more to move it (paying by the pound) than it would to replace it later.

What I'd probably do is try to find a little room, like one small box or tote, to take 1 extra of the things I already have (cereal, pasta, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, deodorant, etc), along with all your coupons. Then you have a really "mini" stockpile, to give you a little time to scope out the stores in your new town, their coupon policies, and their sales. Your budget and shopping for the first few weeks will likely consist of shopping the sales and building a menu plan around what is on sale. If you have a little room in your budget, buy a little extra of any loss leaders or sale items and your stockpile will grow slowly. Shop with a calculator to make sure you don't get carried away and go over your budget.

See if you have an Aldi store nearby here. I would suggest going there to get some staple items while you get settled. Be prepared to pay with cash or debit card, and bring your own bags. While you are getting the feel of the area and other stores, Aldi would be a good place to start stocking your pantry.

As you get more settled in and have a stockpile for groceries started, try moving into the drugstore arena. Find out if you have a CVS, Walgreens, or Rite Aid near you and learn how to play the "drugstore game". Watch their ads or subscribe to some blogs that post coupon matches or highlight deals. I have some listed on my blogroll that could get you started.

This advice certainly applies to those who are moving, but it can also apply to people who are just starting into couponing and need to start a stockpile while staying within their budget. Stockpiling doesn't happen all at once. Just start out slowly and you'll see it grow in no time!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

We have four girls who are close in age, and we like it that way. It makes a lot of things easier because they have a lot of the same interests and can share clothes and toys. We do almost everything together and encourage them to share so no one feels left out. This is great, but in such a busy household, we don't have a lot of time to spend with each child one-on-one.

I received a MOPS email about a month ago that challenged me. It told the story of a mom with two girls who had the opportunity to take one alone with her on a trip, but didn't want the other to feel left out. It wouldn't be fair to take just one, would it? She decided to do it, and the other girl stayed home with Dad. Everyone had a great time and it gave her and her husband time individually with each girl. The challenge was to think of her girls as individuals, and not just as "the girls", and to give them each focused time instead of always focusing on being fair.

Wow, that hit the nail on the head. We often try to be fair and we do often refer to them as "the girls". I want to have a close relationship with each of my girls, and this challenged me to make the time to spend with them each individually. But how? It's hard enough to make time for dates with my husband! How will I fit in one-on-one time with four kids?

As I prayed about it and Ted and I talked about it, it became clear that I just needed to TRY. So I've decided that "Mommy Dates" can be just taking one child with me to run an errand, for a walk around the block, or to check out a new store. Or sometimes I can take two at a time and then the other two can have a "Daddy date" at the same time. We don't have to spend money or buy anything, and things don't have to be fair or even. They think it is special to go on a "Mommy Date", and I hope that it will help to build closer relationships with them as they grow. Cookie magazine suggested making "school year's eve" resolutions, so this is one of mine. To spend some quality time with each of my girls (and my husband) on a regular basis.

Now for the giveaway! One reader will win a $5 Brinker's gift card valid at Chili's, Macaroni Grill, On The Border, or Maggiano's. You can use it to take one of your kids (or your husband!) out for a date!

Everyone has up to four ways to enter:

Leave a comment about how you make time for dates with your kids, or with your husband, or just a creative idea of something fun to do that doesn't cost a lot of money. This first comment is required to enter. Make sure your email address is listed in the comment or in your profile so I can contact you in you win.

Become a subscriber by email or RSS feed in a reader, then leave a separate comment letting me know you have done so. If you are already a subscriber, just leave a comment reminding me that you already subscribe and which method you use (email or reader). Thanks for being a subscriber!

Become a follower. I added a widget on the right hand side of my blog where you can become a follower and your cute little picture will show up. After you've done so, leave a separate comment letting me know. If you are already a follower, just leave a comment letting me know.

Add MomForHim to your blogroll or add my new button to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a comment letting me know you've done so with your blog address so I can come visit you! :-)

Any comments not following the above guidelines will be deleted. This giveaway will end on September 3rd at midnight, and I will choose a winner using random.org. The winner will be notified by email.

Friday, August 28, 2009

I went to shop the loss leaders at another grocery store this week and remembered why I don't usually do that. It never ceases to amaze me how easily the money seems to slip through my fingers at this store! I spent about $48.

I know you are wondering about all the Mountain Dew. Keeping the Mountain Dew stocked at our house is one way I can show love to Ted in a tangible way. :-) And I've been known to sneak one every once in awhile, too.

Well, the Mtn Dew was $2 per 12 pack, so that's why I stocked up this week. I also went to get 4 Tombstone pizzas, but after paying, I got a $3 ONYO catalina, making them $2 each, so I had to go back and get 4 more!

But the Tombstone deal gets even better. . .I can submit to Tombstone to receive a credit to help pay my bills! If your family likes Tombstone pizzas and you can find a good sale, print out this form and save your receipts and UPCs. You have until 1/15/10 to take advantage of this offer, and you can earn up to a $15 credit if you buy 17 pizzas. What a deal!

I am well on my way on collecting for Dannonomics coupons, since I have purchased $18.25 worth and 2 brands (though really I only spent $2.50 after sales and doubled coupons!). I am only one pack away from getting 6 $1 coupons, but I have until the end of October to collect receipts, so I may just make it to the $40 level and get 15 $1 coupons!

I was so excited to see this freebie, since I'm a serious lip balm freak! I have at least 5 tubes going at any one time because I need to have it close at hand. Click here to get a free smooth mint sphere sample of EOS lip balm. There are only 50,000 samples, which I'm sure will go fast, so I didn't want to wait for the weekly freebie roundup to post this. Hurry and get yours! Just look at how cute it is!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Have you signed up for Swagbucks yet? If you have, you can get a FREE swagbuck by logging in and then clicking where it says "special offers" in the middle of the page. Then skip over three ads to reach the swag code at the end. Enter that in your swag code box for one free swagbuck! It takes less than a minute. Thanks freesnatcher!

If you haven't signed up yet, hurry and do so by clicking on the Swagbucks icon on the right side of my blog, or just click here. You should also be able to click the icon above. You earn swagbucks for doing searches (think google or yahoo, except you get paid with swagbucks), and you only need 45 swagbucks to redeem for a $5 Amazon gift card! This will be a great way to save for Christmas!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

I got two Cornish Game Hens for better than free last week at the grocery store. They were on sale BOGO, so 2 for $3.69. I had two $1 coupons that both doubled, taking $4 off. Good deal, right? Only if I use them.

I don't like chicken with bones. I am a boneless, skinless chicken breast sorta gal. I bought a cooked rotisserie chicken once because it was a great deal-- it tasted good and we got a decent amount of meat off of it, but it was so time consuming for me to pick through it all (and it was messy). I decided rotisserie chickens probably weren't my kind of thing (unless they were better than free, then I'd probably give it another shot!)

So I have these two cute little Cornish Game Hens sitting in my freezer. How long do they need to thaw? How do I cook them? How much meat do they have on them? Will I need to cook both at once to feed my family? I need your help!

Monday, August 24, 2009

In thinking about trying to do a roundup of freebies, I didn't want to do the "Freebie Friday" that everyone else does. So what about "More for your Mailbox Monday"? Too much? Anyway, if you do want more in your mailbox, check out some of these current free offers. :-)

Go here to request a free copy of the book Revolution In World Missions.K.P. Yohannan shares how God brought him from his remote Indian village to become the founder of Gospel for Asia, which supports thousands of native missionaries. We own this book and recommend GFA!

Click here for a free sample of Emergen-C from Walmart.Get another one here!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Sometimes entering the world of couponing can be confusing with all the coupon lingo out there. Here's a guide for you as you start navigating the world of couponing. :-)

OOP--stands for "out of pocket" and means the actual money you spend, after coupons and sales.

Catalina--a machine next to the register that prints out coupons. (Like for pet meds even if you don't have any pets. . .but some of them are useful!)

ECB--stands for "extra care buck" at CVS, a store coupon that prints at the bottom of your receipt that you can use like cash on your next purchase. They usually expire in a month.

RR--stands for "register reward" at Walgreens. It is a manufacturer coupon that prints out of the catalina machine at the register that you can use on your next purchase. These are usually good for 2 weeks.

Stacking--using more than one coupon on the same item. You can stack a manufacturer coupon with a store coupon to maximize your savings. ECBs can be stacked because they are a CVS store coupon. Target coupons can also be stacked with manufacturer coupons. RRs cannot be stacked with another coupon, as they are manufacturer coupons.

Stockpiling--buying extra of an item that is on sale, to last you until the next sale cycle (usually 6-8 weeks). This way you won't have to pay full price for most items ever again!

Doubling--many stores double coupons, but you need to know your store's policies to best take advantage of them.

ADC--stands for "after doubled coupon"

YMMV--stands for "your manager may vary" and means your store's policy may differ

IPs--Internet Printable coupons

Matching--some stores match other store's ad prices if you bring in a current ad. Walmart does this. My local grocery store doesn't ad match, but they do accept a competitor store's coupons. Find out what your store will do for you!

BOGO--stands for "buy one get one", which usually means buy one, get one free.

OYNO--stands for "on your next order" and is usually used to refer to a catalina coupon that prints out as a reward for purchasing certain items, and is good for $$ off your next purchase. It might say something like, "Save $2.50 on your next purchase, compliments of Kraft".

wyb--stands for "when you buy".

Peelie or Blinkie--coupons on (peelie) or near (blinkies in those red boxes) products in the store.

10/$10--stands for 10 items for $10. This doesn't mean you have to buy 10, it just means the product is $1 each. It's a sneaky marketing ploy trying to make you buy more than you need. But if it's a good price on an item you regularly use, then go ahead and buy 10! (see "stockpiling" above!)

$1/2--a coupon for $1 off the purchase of 2 products (or it could be $3/2, or $3 off 2, etc.)

Friday, August 21, 2009

Friday only you can create a FREE 8x10 scrapbook page! Earlier in the week we had thought it would be $0.99, but a 20% off coupon took off $1 automatically, and the code SCRAPIT took off the other $3.99, making it FREE if you opt for in-store pickup. Thanks Freebies4Mom!

Last night when I went into Walgreens to pick up my free 4x6 prints, they had a sign saying that next Wednesday you can get a FREE 8x10 Photo Collage. You can either create it online or in the store. I think that code was FUNDAY, but I'll let you know next week when I find out for sure (I forgot to write it down--sorry!).

Have you received 4 coupons for free chocolate yet? If not, go over and register for another one today! Click here starting at 9 AM EST to register for a coupon to redeem for a single-size package of M&Ms, Milky Way, Twix, Dove, Snickers, or 3 Musketeers. This offer only goes through 9/25, so if you haven't received all 4 coupons for your household yet, you need to get going! You can get one per email address per week, for a total of 4 per household.

Discounted Gift Certificates

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Questions about Couponing?

Check out my "Coupon 101" posts for getting started. Abbreviations have you confused? Go to "Coupon Lingo" for a crash course. And always feel free to email me with questions. I do this because I want to help others! :-) Printing issues? Click here for some help.